Building block

ABSTRACT

A building block of hollow box-like form, shaped at its ends and at top and bottom for interfitment with adjacent similar blocks of a course, and with similar blocks of succeeding courses, has its sides interconnected by a cross-member with an enlarged middle portion having an opening formed therethrough from top to bottom, the cross-member being such that in a wall of the blocks, the openings through cross-members of blocks of the courses are vertically aligned and are adapted to receive a vertical reinforcing member.

Unlted States Patent 3,834,100 Healey Sept. 10, 1974 [54] BUILDING BLOCK:l;4g(4),6l2 Hamilllton 521292 ,2 ,849 l W t 52 92 [75] Inventor: Aflhusephen Healey, Bnsbanei 3,488,881 1/1970 Hdifer 46/23 Austraha 3,668,8326/1972 Harman 52/592 1 Assigneel g i a a g g p FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS g 5 d z g i 573,944 3/1958 ltaly 52/594 [22] Filed: Jan. 5,1972 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh [21] APPL NO: 215,491 Attorney,Agent, or FirmDonald D. Jeffery 30 Foreign Application Priority Data L 31d bl k z f f h d u1 mg 0c 0 00w ox-1eorm,s ape atIs May 3, 1971Australla 4787/71 ends and at top and bottom for interfitmem with adja[52] U S Cl 52/309 52/589 52/607 cent similar blocks of a course, andwith similar blocks [51] m E04c1/10 6 2/20 of succeeding courses, hasits sides interconnected by [58] Fieid "52/6O9 606 608 a cross-memberwith an enlarged middle portion hav- '"Z 6 ing an opening formedtherethrough from top to bottom, the cross-member being such that in awall of the [56] References Cited blocks, the openings throughcross-members of blocks of the courses are vertically aligned and areadapted UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ to receive a vertical reinforcingmember. 1,080,367 12/1913 Raftis 5 606 1,415,197 5/1922 Sampson 6Claims, 10 Drawmg Flgul'es BAIENTEB SEP 1 0 I974 SHEET 3 OF 3 Thisinvention relates to building blocks, and it has more particularreference to building blocks of hollow box-like form which may be ofmoulded plastics and formed at their ends so that adjacent blocks of acourse may be interfrtted, and shaped at top and bottom so that blocksof succeeding courses may be interfitted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide blocks of thisgeneral character which, though of such open construction that a wall ofsuch blocks may have continuous cavities from top to bottom, are notliable to significant distortion.

Another object of the invention is to provide such building blocks whichinclude means whereby a wall constructed therefrom may be easily andeffectively reinforced.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention residesbraodly in a building block including a pair of sides interconnected inspaced substantially parallel arrangement by end sections, each adaptedto be interfitted with the opposite end section of a similar block, thetop edge portions of the sides being adapted to be interfitted withbottom edge portions of the sides of a similar superimposed block;intermediate positions on the sides being further interconnected by asubstantially planar horizontal cross-member with an apertured middlepart. Preferably the cross-member is substantially of hollow square formwith diagonally opposed corner portions connected to said intermediatepositions on said sides. Preferably two such crossmembers are providedin longitudinally spaced arrangement in a standard block at positionsone quarter of the length of the side from each end so that when suchblocks are interfitted end to end in each of a number of horizontalcourses, in bond, the openings through the cross-members of the variouscourses are aligned vertically to receive vertical reinforcing members.Other features of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription.

In order that a preferred embodiment of the invention may be readilyunderstood and carried into practical effect, reference is now made tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a block according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the block,

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the end of the block at the left of FIGS. 1and 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the end of the block at the right of FIGS. 1and 2,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the block,

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of part of an assembly of blocks andreinforcements to form a wall structure,

block has a pair of parallel sides 11 interconnected by a first endsection 12, a second end section 13, an intermediate transverse section14, and two cross-pieces 15.

Each of the sides 11 is rebated from the outside at the top and at oneend to form half-thickness top and end flashing pieces 16 and 17respectively, and is rebated from the inside at the bottom and the otherend to form bottom and end flashing pieces 18 and 19 respectively. Eachside is reinforced by an inwardly extending flange 20 aligned with abottom of a top flashing piece 16, and by buttresses 21 extendingdownwardly from this flange.

The side portions of both end sections 12 and 13 are inset by the widthof the end flashing pieces 17 and 19, and extend vertically between thetop of the bottom flashing pieces 18 and the flange 20.

The middle part of end sectin 12 is an outwardly extending rectangularprojection 22, its top level with the top of the block, its bottom levelwith the top of the bottom flashing pieces 18, and with a rectangularopening 23 therethrough. Two lugs 24 extend downwardly from this endsection, to either side of the projection 22.

The middle part of end section 13 is flanked by a pair of uprighttongues 25 adapted to be closely fitted to either side of the projection22 at the opposite end of another similar block, and to be aligned attop and bottom with this projection 22, the end section 13 has a centralrectangular opening 26.

The intermediate section 14 has a transverse web 27 interconnecting theflanges 20 of the two sides 11, and from which a flange 28 extendsperpendicularly upwards. From the part of the transverse web 27 nearerto end section 13, a partition 29 extends downwardly interconnecting thesides 11 except at their rebated lower parts. Spaced from the side ofthe partition nearer to the end section 12, flanges 30 extend inwardlyfrom the sides, from the lowermost rebated parts of which they areseparated.

Each of the cross-pieces 15 consists for the main part of asubstantially planar horizontal hollow square member, from diagonallyopposite corners of which integral connecting pieces 31 extend to andare formed integrally with opposed buttresses 21 and flanges 20.

In building a wall structure, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8, anumber of half-blocks 10a are provided, each having sides half thelength of the sides 11 described but otherwise similar; and end sectionssimilar to the end sections 12 and 13 before described, and with asingle cross-piece 15.

The wall structure also includes pillars, which may suitably bealuminium extrusions, and of which a corner pillar 32 is moreparticularly shown in FIG. 9, a junction pillar 33 being shown in FIG.10.

In constructing the wall, a bottom channel or plate 34 is supportedhorizontally, in any suitable way, for example on a concrete floor slab,and a course of the blocks 10 are laid thereon, end to end, the flangesof the bottom plate 34 being rebated for close engagement within thebottom flashing pieces 18 of the blocks. The blocks are made for closeinterfitment end to end, flashing pieces 17 at one end of one block 10fitting closely within flashing pieces 19 at the opposite end of thenext block, the rectangular projection 22 at one end of the one blockengaging closely between the tongues 25 at the opposite end of the otherblock.

r The second course of blocks are laid in bond, the bottom flashingpieces 18 of the upper course engaging closely outside the top flashingpieces 16 of the lower course, the partition 29 and the flanges 30 ofthe intermediate section 14 of each block of the upper course holdingbetween them the interfitted projection 22 and the tongues 25 of matingends of blocks of the lower course.

The blocks are so made that the hollow squares of the cross-pieces 15 ofthe courses are aligned one above the other; and tubular reinforcingmembers or studs 35 are passed down through aligned hollow cross-piecesas shown in FIG. 7, being in any suitable spacing, the tubular studsbeing passed down also through suitable holes in the bottom plate 34,for example, into a recess formed in the peripheral part of a concretefoundation, into which they are secured by the introduction of concreteto the recess.

The vertically aligned ends of the blocks and halfblocks 103 areengaged, at a corner, with the appropriately profiled side of a comerpillar 32; and a further wall is constructed, as described, for theother side of the corner, the blocks and half-blocks thereof engagingwith a second appropriately profiled side of the corner pillar.

When it is required that an internal wall should extend perpendicularlyfrom the main wall, there is provided a junction pillar 33, having, asshown in FIG. 10, opposite sides profiled to engage with the appropriateends of blocks and half-blocks, and having a third side profiled toengage with the ends of blocks and halfblocks commencing the internalwall.

The blocks of a wall are capped by a capping channel 36, the downwardlyextending flanges of which are re bated from inside so as to be capableof engaging over the top flashing pieces 16 of the blocks andhalf-blocks of the upper course, the intermediate part of the cappingchannel being apertured for the passage of the tubular studs 35. These,extending above the capping channel 36, being capable of carrying a roofstructure as indicated at 37.

A wall constructed as described and illustrated will be found to beparticularly strong owing to the anchoring of the tubular studs to bothsides of each of the blocks through the apertured cross-pieces of whichthe studs pass. These cross-pieces have a degree of resilientflexibility, and so the wall structure will not be liable to unduestresses, consequent on minor irregularities in its assembly.

The wall structure may be readily dismantled if and when required.Alternatively, the wall may be stabilized and insulated in situ byfilling it, before the application of the capping channel, with materialsuch as polyurethane foam, the tubular studs then being firmly embeddedand become permanent reinforcements in the wall, The use of the pillarsobviates the necessity for the use of angled blocks, T-plan blocks andthe like, and such pillars are of neat and attractive appearance.

Building blocks according to the invention will be found to be veryeffective in achieving the objects for which they have been devised. Itwill, of course, be understood that the particular embodiment of theinvention herein described may be subject to many minor modifications ofconstructional detail and design, which will be readily apparent topersons skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of theinvention hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A building block formed of polymeric material including a pair ofsides interconnected in spaced, substantially parallel arrangement byend sections, each end section being adapted to be interfitted with theopposite end section of a similar block, the top edge portions of thesides being adapted to be interfitted with bottom edge portions of thesides of a similar superimposed block; a transversely extendingcross-member interconnecting said sides intermediate the ends andadjacent the tops thereof, said cross-member being substantially planarand relatively thin in vertical crosssection relative to the depth ofsaid block and formed with an aperture in the middle part thereof, withthe space between said sides being otherwise substantially uninterruptedfrom top to bottom in the region of such cross-member, the relativelythin construction of said cross-member rendering the same resilientlyflexible thereby adapting said block to the insertion of anchoring meansthrough superimposed rows of said blocks even when said apertures insuch superimposed rows of blocks are not precisely aligned.

2. A building block according to claim 1 wherein said middle part ofsaid cross-member is substantially of hollow square form, its diagonallyopposed corner portions being connected to said intermediate positionson said sides.

3. A building block according to claim 1 wherein said sides areinterconnected by two of said cross-members spaced apart and connectedto the sides at positions one quarter the length of the sides from eachend.

4. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the sidesof the block are formed with normally vertical flashing pieces, those ofone end of the block being adapted to be closely fitted within theflashing pieces at the opposite end of a similar block.

5. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the top and bottom edgeportions of the sides are shaped to form normally horizontal flashingpieces, those of the top of the block being adapted to be closely fittedwithin those of the bottom of a similar superimposed block.

6. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the sides are furtherinterconnected by an intermediate transverse section havinglongitudinally spaced members at the bottom thereof to receive closelyand hold together the upper parts of interfitted end sections of twosimilar blocks.

1. A building block formed of polymeric material including a pair ofsides interconnected in spaced, substantially parallel arrangement byend sections, each end section being adapted to be interfitted with theopposite end section of a similar block, the top edge portions of thesides being adapted to be interfitted with bottom edge portions of thesides of a similar superimposed block; a transversely extendingcross-member interconnecting said sides intermediate the ends andadjacent the tops thereof, said cross-member being substantially planarand relatively thin in vertical cross-section relative to the depth ofsaid block and formed with an aperture in the middle part thereof, withthe space between said sides being otherwise substantially uninterruptedfrom top to bottom in the region of such crossmember, the relativelythin construCtion of said cross-member rendering the same resilientlyflexible thereby adapting said block to the insertion of anchoring meansthrough superimposed rows of said blocks even when said apertures insuch superimposed rows of blocks are not precisely aligned.
 2. Abuilding block according to claim 1 wherein said middle part of saidcross-member is substantially of hollow square form, its diagonallyopposed corner portions being connected to said intermediate positionson said sides.
 3. A building block according to claim 1 wherein saidsides are interconnected by two of said cross-members spaced apart andconnected to the sides at positions one quarter the length of the sidesfrom each end.
 4. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the endsof the sides of the block are formed with normally vertical flashingpieces, those of one end of the block being adapted to be closely fittedwithin the flashing pieces at the opposite end of a similar block.
 5. Abuilding block according to claim 1 wherein the top and bottom edgeportions of the sides are shaped to form normally horizontal flashingpieces, those of the top of the block being adapted to be closely fittedwithin those of the bottom of a similar superimposed block.
 6. Abuilding block according to claim 1 wherein the sides are furtherinterconnected by an intermediate transverse section havinglongitudinally spaced members at the bottom thereof to receive closelyand hold together the upper parts of interfitted end sections of twosimilar blocks.